TIPSY DATE SQUARES

Tipsy Date Squares image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Yield Makes about 5 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup lightly packed light-brown sugar
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup best-quality candied orange peel, finely chopped
1 cup pitted Medjool dates, cut into 1/4-inch dice
1 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup port

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment. Whisk to combine flour, cocoa powder, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.
In a separate bowl, beat brown sugar, molasses, and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes; beat in eggs. Reduce speed to low; add flour mixture, beating just until combined. Fold in orange peel, dates, and walnuts.
Transfer batter to pan; smooth top with an offset spatula. Bake until surface is set and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with only a few moist crumbs clinging to it, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cake rest in pan 5 minutes. Invert onto a wire rack; peel off parchment. Brush bottom side (now facing up) with 3 tablespoons port. Let stand 30 minutes. Flip cake over on rack, and brush other side with remaining tablespoon port. Let stand 1 hour. (Cake can be kept at room temperature, wrapped well in plastic, up to 1 month.)
Cut into 3/4-inch squares, wiping knife with a damp cloth between cuts. Squares can be refrigerated in an airtight container (layered between sheets of waxed paper) up to 1 week.